Medium
Dani Stephenson’s Straight Forward Music Group Transcends the Boundaries of the Music Industry
[as originally published on medium.com]
The saturation of today’s industries makes it difficult for individuals and companies to stand out and be remembered among a crowd of many talents and commercial powerhouses. It does not help to cling to outdated strategies and utilize tools from the past to cement one’s presence in any field. This is why Dani Stephenson established his company on the belief that the only way to make music and moments people will remember is by moving straight forward. Hanging back is not an option anymore, given how fast-paced and dynamic the industries are.
With over fifteen years of music industry experience, music executive, and philanthropist Dani Stephenson has established himself as an authority in the ins and outs of more than just one industry. He has consulted in many areas of entertainment form A&R, talent management, artist development, product management, international marketing, and promotional strategy for global campaigns by some of the leading record labels and artists in the realm of music.
By establishing Straight Forward Music Group, this creative-turned-business-executive has demonstrated exceptional commercial prowess and artistic vision. Founded in 2009, SFMG started as an indie music-media consultancy and talent management company that specialises in all areas of entertainment. Since then, it has expanded into a multi-faceted company that offers talent management, music distribution, publishing, recording services, and charity initiatives.
Some of the subsidiaries under SFMG include Straight Forward Publishing, which focuses on offering a service to develop creatives and, at the same time, providing a global publishing collection service. It also comprises Straight Forward Music, an award-winning talent management firm, and music distribution and marketing-focused Straight Forward Recording. Also under SFMG is the Straight Forward Giving Foundation that is dedicated to supporting charity initiatives. The foundation’s most recent event involved raising funds intended for families and individuals who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stephenson can be credited for more than just the achievements of SFMG. As a producer and songwriter, he was involved in creating the Billboard Top 20 hit single The Mack, a song featuring Mark Morrison and Fetty Wap. The Mack conquered multiple global charts, gaining over three hundred million streams all across the globe and selling over two million singles worldwide.
As an expert in talent management and A&R, Stephenson was also involved in a lot of hit albums, including Finally Famous by Big Sean, MANN’s World by MANN, Last Train to Paris by P Diddy’s Dirty Money, Big Conspiracy by J Hus, and Psychodrama by Dave. Not only that, but he also worked on Drake’s record-breaking album’s More Life and Scorpion.
It is undeniable that SFMG, with Dani at the helm, is proving to be solid competitors in the industry. A producer they signed back in 2015, Nana Rogues, is just one of the phenomenal artists in their roster. Nana was involved in a lot of Drake’s records, one of them is 2018 record-breaking Don’t Matter To Me. The single, which features Michael Jackson, destroyed the single-day streaming record on Apple Music and Spotify, and the Grammy-nominated album Scorpion pulled in over 132 million streams in its first 24 hours.
All of this success is rooted in Dani’s and SFMG’s ethos to go against the grain of tradition. In every effort they exert, they intend to push boundaries and innovate.
Find out how Dani Stephenson is striving to create their brand of popular culture, instead of just being a part of it by visiting his website.